As was the case in the NBA last year, the lockout-shortened NHL regular season was larger-than-normal draw on the league’s broadcast partners.
Coverage of the 2013 NHL regular season averaged 392,000 viewers on NBC Sports Network, up 18% from last year (332K), up 13% from the 2010-11 season (348K), and the most-viewed NHL season on cable since 1993-94 (474K).
Seven of the eight most-viewed games ever on NBCSN took place this season alone, with Bruins/Rangers on January 23 (956K) and Flyers/Penguins on February 20 (901K) topping the charts. The Bruins played in five of those seven games.
On NBC, the first 13 telecasts of the season averaged 1.5 million viewers — down 5% from last year’s full-season average (1.6M), and down 7% from 2010-11 (1.6M). NBC’s average does not include Saturday’s Devils/Rangers season finale; the game earned a 0.6 overnight rating and will likely drag down the numbers when the final ratings are released.
The cancellation of the Winter Classic is largely responsible for the slight decline on NBC. The 2012 Rangers/Flyers Winter Classic drew a 2.1 rating and 3.7 million viewers on NBC, the network’s top telecast of the season. By comparison, the top telecast this season — regional action on Opening Day — drew a 1.6 and 2.8 million.
(Season averages from NBC Sports Group Press Box)
